Hydraulic adjustment means for roll crushing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A roll crushing apparatus of the type in which the crushing action takes place between a pair of parallel, spaced apart, rotating rolls, one of which is fixed on the crusher frame while the other roll is movable on the frame to thereby adjust the gap between the rolls. A roll adjusting assembly is provided for positioning the movable roll relative to the other roll, and this assembly includes spring means having a U-shaped bracket embracing spring means, the bracket in turn being positionable by double acting hydraulic rams. The arrangement of the parts is such that the overall length of the crusher can be shortened.

United States Patent Dediemar et al.

[ 1 Oct. 24, 1972 [54] HYDRAULIC ADJUSTMENT MEANS 1,761,268 6/1930 Maclennan ..241/231 FOR ROLL CRUSHING APPARATUS 1,730,906 10/1929 Voegel ..24l/230 [72] Inventors: Ronald B. Dediemar, Brown Deer; gg LeRoy J. Schuman, Milwaukee, pp

both of Wis. [73] Assignee: Barber-Greene Company, Aurora, Primary Examiner-firanville Custer,

HL I Attorney-James E. Nilles [22] Filed: July 6,1971

1211 pp Nor 159,876 57 ABSTRACT Related U,S, A li ati Data A roll crushing apparatus of the type in which the 1 crushing action takes place between a pair of parallel, [63], Commuauon of 836389 June spaced apart, rotating rolls, one of which is fixed on 1969, abandoned the crusher frame while the other roll is movable on the frame to thereby adjust the gap between the rolls. [52] US. Cl ..241/230 A roll adjusting assembly is provided for positioning a [51] Int. Cl ..B02c 4/32 the movable roll relative to the other roll, and this as- [58] Field of Search ..241/230, 231, 234 e b y nc ude sp ing me having a U- pe bracket embracing spring means, the bracket in turn [56] References Cited being positionable by double acting hydraulic rams. The arrangement of the parts is such that the overall UNITED STATES PATENTS length of the crusher can be shortened.

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R,B. Dc DIEMAR L.J. SCHUMAN I BY= ATTORNEY I HYDRAULIC ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR ROLL CRUSHING APPARATUS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation application of the United States application Ser. No. 836,389, filed June 25, 1969, and entitled Hydraulic Adjustment Means for Roll Crushing Apparatus, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to solid material comminution or disintegrating apparatus of the type having yieldably mounted rotating rolls.

' Prior art roll crushing apparatus ordinarily includes two parallel rotating crushing rolls, which are spaced toward the fixed .roll by springs. Uncrushable material,

such as tramp iron, may thus pass through the crusher by momentarily enlarging the gap between the rolls, thereby avoiding damage to the crushingapparatus.

To adjust the particle size of the crushed product, one of the rolls is movably mounted on the crusher frame so that the spacing between the rolls may be varied, as by inserting a plurality of shims between the fixed and movable rolls. To do so requires that the force exerted on the movable roll by the springs, and in turn by the movable roll on the shims, be released. As shown in the US. Pat. No. 1,761,268, issued June 3, 1930, entitled Crushing Roll Apparatus, one conventional procedure for releasing the springs involves .loosening nuts holding the springs in compression, or re-energizing a hydraulic means to compress the springs. A pry bar is then inserted between the rolls and the rolls pried apart, loosening the shims. The desired number of shims are then inserted or removed from the plurality of shims between the rolls and the springs recompressed by tightening the nuts or re-energizing the hydraulic cylinder so that the movable roll is again urged toward the fixed roll in preparation for recommencing the crushing action.

Another type of prior art crusher is shown in the US. Pat. No. 2,964,249, which issued Dec. 13, 1960 and entitled Material Reducing Apparatus to L. K. Knight. In that device however, the adjusting frame is locked rigid against the shims and against the rear frame member by means of nuts located on their respective rods. As a result, when the shims were to be replaced or added, it was necessary for the operator to first loosen the nuts to the desired extent to permit the hydraulic cylinder to shift the frame thereby freeing the shims. In addition, the prior art device shown in the Knight patent did not utilize shims between the rollers and instead, the adjustable bearings of one of the rollers was held away from the fixed roller by means of their aforementioned rods and their nuts which locked the adjustable bearing to the frame wall. In addition the Knight device had the disadvantage of being unable to compress the springs with the hydraulic cylinder in order to insert the shims when the machine was to be assembled initially. Subsequently, the rods and the nuts had to be adjusted so as to provide proper clearances 2 between therolls and this involved considerable time and effort in setting up the machine.

Another type of prior art crusher is shown in the US. Pat. No. 3,159,356, which issued Dec. 1, 1964 to Deppe and entitled Drive for Roll Crusher. The device shown in the Deppe patent however utilized no hydraulic means and the springs of that device had to be recompressed at the time of each adjusting operation.

The necessity for adjusting the spacing of the crushing rolls arises quite frequently, not only to change the particle size, but also to retain uniform spacing between the rolls as they wear down, and heretofore the adjusting of the spacing of crushing rolls has been time consuming and resulted in a reduction of efficiency of the crushing apparatus. I

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention provides-an improved means for adjusting the spacing of the rolls of a roll crushing apparatus which permits adjustment of the crushing roll spacing more rapidly and with greater safety than prior an apparatus.

Briefly, the present invention includes a spring means for resiliently urging the movable roll of the crusher toward the fixed roll and shim means are located between the fixed and movable rolls for setting the gap between the rolls. Other shim means are then located between the spring means and the frame of the apparatus for adjusting the spring means to any one of a number of adjustable positions on the frame. A-spring release means is coupled to the spring means and includes 'a double-acting fluid cylinder for positively shifting the spring means in either direction. When the spring release means is shifted in one direction toward the crushing gap, the spring means is released to allow shims to be removed from between the spring means and'frame. When the spring release means is shifted in the other direction, that is away from the rolls, the

shims between the rolls can be adjusted.

Thus, with a double acting power means and two separate shim means, one between the rolls and the other between the frame and the spring means which loads the rolls, the individual shims of the two separate shim means can be readily interchanged and the spring loading of the spring means remains the same.

The above described crusher provided by the present invention utilizes the springs to hold the adjustable roll in working position and the hydraulic cylinders are not under any load during the crushing operation. Furthermore, there is no necessity to use a wrench or other tools to make an adjustment of the shims, it being only necessary to extend and subsequently contact the hydraulic cylinders. Another aspect of the invention relates to the fact that the over-all length of the crusher can be reduced substantially because of the doubling up of space between the springs and the hydraulic cylinders; in other words, the hydraulic cylinders lie parallel to the spring arrangement due to the U-shaped bracket which connects the cylinders to the spring as! sembly.

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a roll crushing apparatus incorporating the adjustment means of thepresent invention; Y v

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a roll crushing apparatus with portions thereof cut away to reveal the adjustment means;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the adjustment means-of the present invention, taken along line 3.-3 of FIG. 1;

' FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIGS. land 2, certain parts shown as broken away and removed; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, perspective, exploded view of a portion of the machine in the other figures, certain parts being shown as broken clarity in the drawings.

' DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The roll crushing apparatus includes a frame 14 on which a pair of parallel crushing rolls l6 and 18 are journalled to provide a crushing gap therebetween. Crushing roll 16 is journalled in fixed bearings 20 which are fastened to the frame and crushing roll18 islongitudinally movable along frame 14 in movable bearings 22, which are slideably mounted on frame 14, to thereby permit adjustment of the crushing gap.

Spacers 24 are positioned on frame 14 between away or in section for bearings 22 and 20 and in abutment with the latter bearings. Shim means 26, consisting of individual shims ,28 of different thickness, are located between each of spacers 24 and movable bearings 22 The shims 28 extend upwardly through an opening 29 in a top plate TP so they can be grasped by the operator, and these shims may be inserted or removed to adjust the distance between bearings 20 and 22 and the the crushing rolls l6 and 18.

- A hopper 31 is mounted on top of frame 14 into which the material to be crushed is placed. The material passes between the crushing rolls 16 and 18 and out the bottom of frame 14 and base 12 onto a conveyor or other means, not shown.

Crushing rolls 16 and 18 are driven by a prime mover which rotates flywheel 30 by means of flexible endless members such as V-belts 32. Flywheel 30 and shaft 36 driven thereby are rotatably mounted on the frame by means of journals 34. Shaft 36 contains spur gear 38 which drives fixed crushing roll 16 through gear 40. Gears 38 and 40 may be enclosed in shield 42. Movable crushing roll 18 is driven by fixed roll 16 by tires 44 and 46 on the exposed ends of the axles of the crushing rolls, which drivingly connect the crushing rolls, but also permit relative movement therebetween. The diameter of the rubber tires is such that they are in abutment for all positions of movable crushing roll 18.

Bearings 22, in which are journalled the movable crushing roll 18, are resiliently urged into abutment with shim means 26 by spring means 50 which include a plurality of coil springs 52. One end of each of springs 52 bears against plates 54 affixed to bearings 22. The other ends of springs 52 abut stop plates 56. Stop plates 56 are positioned longitudinally in the frame by second shim means 58, comprised of individual shims 28, which are inserted between stop plates 56 and the rigid frame'member 60. Shims 58 extend upwardly through an opening 59 in the top plate TP for grasping by the operator. The springs 52 are compressed to an extent determined bythe distance between plates 54 and stop plates 56. Normally, the distance between the plates 56 and 54, and consequently the amount of compression of springs 52, is such'that the force exerted by compressed springs 52 prevents bodily or longitudinal movement of movable crushing roll 18, except when uncrushable material passes between the crushing rolls.

Power means PM are provided in roll crushing apparatus 10 which act to compress the springs 52, thereby releasing the thrust on stop plates 56, so that shims 28 may be inserted and removed during adjustment of the position of movable crushing roll 18. Additionally, this power meansis used to move movable crushing roll 18 to its newly adjusted position.

A pair of generally U-shaped (when viewed in plan) brackets 64 are slideably mounted on each of opposite sides of the main frame, and these brackets include the transversely positioned stop plates 56. The plates 56 have recesses 56a which slide along the frame and guide the brackets. The brackets also include arm spacing between I means 66 which extend longitudinally from the stop plates at each side thereof and terminate in free ends A plurality of rod means in the form of bolts 62 extend between plates 54 and stop plates 56. These rod means extend down the centers of coil springs 52 so as to retain the springs between the plates. One end of each of rod means 62' is threaded into either bearing 22 or plate 54 and therefore fixed with the bearing 22.

. The other end of the rod means have a slideable one way stop connection with the plate means, as follows. The other end of each of bolts 62 slideably extend freely through stop plate 56, but are not threaded or otherwise aifixed to the stop plates 56, to thereby permit plates 56 to move on the rod means and relative to the of the plates 56 and 54.

The vertically spaced arms 66 extend from either side of stop plate 56 and parallel to springs 52 and bolts 62.

With this construction, a crusher of shorter length is provided because the arms 66 of the bracket lie along side of the springs 52, thereby doubling up on the length of space, that is, less length is required than if the arms and springs were placed end to end. Thus, with a generally U-shaped bracket which embraces the springs 52, a shorter crusher length is possible.

As previously mentioned, power means PM are provided between the frame and the spring means for shifting the latter so as to be able to remove shim means 58 and also so as to retract the entire spring means 50 away from the crushing gap. This power means includes adouble acting fluid cylinder 70 mounted'on either side of each of frame members 14 by means of brackets 74 affixed to the cylinder portion 72 of hydraulic cylinders 70.'The piston rods 76 of hydraulic cylinders 70 are coupled to bracket arms 66 as by pins 77 extending between the upper and lower bracket arms. As will be apparent from FIG. 2, two such hydraulic cylinders 70 are provided for each stop plate 56.

' v The hydraulic system for hydraulic cylinders 70 includes a source of hydraulic pressure, typically a pump 80, operated by a handle 81. As seen most clearly in FlG. 2, the outlet of pump 80 is provided through four way valve 82 to hydraulic lines 84 and 86. Valve 82 is adjustable by knob 88 to select the lines to which hydraulic pressure will be supplied. By providing hydraulic pressure to line 84, the piston rods 76 of hydraulic cylinders 70 are extended. By providing hydraulic pressure to hydraulic lines 86, the piston rods 76 of cylinders 70 are retracted.

To adjust the spacing of crusher rolls l6 and 18 so that a smaller gap exists between the rolls, knob 88 on hydraulic valve 82 is adjusted so that the operation of hydraulic pump 80 acts to extend piston rods 76 of hydraulic cylinders 70. This may be accomplished by adjusting valve 82 so that the operation of hydraulic pump 80 provides hydraulic fluid in lines 84 to cylinders 70 and withdraws hydraulic fluid from cylinders 70 through hydraulic lines 86.

The extension of piston rods 76 moves bracket 64 and its plates 56 toward plate 54 and movable bearing 22 to release the compressive forces exerted on shim pack 58 by springs 52, thereby freeing the shims 28. It has been found that moving stop plate 56 about oneeighth of an inch is sufficient to properly release the shims of shim pack 58. One or more shims 28 are then removed from shim pack 58. Knob 88 and hydraulic valve 82 are then adjusted so that the operation of hydraulic pump 80 retracts piston rods 76 as by providing hydraulic fluid to cylinders 70 in hydraulic lines 86 and withdrawing hydraulic fluid from the cylinders in hydraulic lines 84. The retraction of piston rods 76 allows springs 52 to expand until stop plate 56 comes in contact with nuts 63 on bolts 62. Further retracting of piston rods 76 moves stop plate 56, bolts 62 and then springs 52, plate 54, movable bearing 22, and movable crushing roll 18 away from fixed crushing roll 16, releasing shims 28 of shim pack 26. The desired number of shims are then removed from pack 26 to reduce the size of shim pack 26 by an amount equal to the desired reduction in the crushing gap between crushing rolls 16 and 18.

Knob 88 is then adjusted so that the operation of hydraulic pump 80 extends piston rods 76 to move movable bearing 22 and movable crushing roll 18 into abutment with shim pack 26 so that the crushing gap is formed between the crushing rolls. Plate 54, bolts 62 and then springs 52, and stop plate 56 are also moved toward fixed crushing roll 16. The operation of hydraulic pump 80 is continued to the point where stop plate 56 again compresses springs 52 so as to permit the shims initially removed from pack 58 and also the additional shims removed from shim pack 26 to be inserted in shim pack 58. When this has been done, knob 88 on valve 82 is adjusted so that piston rods 76 are retracted by the operation of pump 80 to allow stop plates 56 to again move into abutment with enlarged shim pack 58, enlarged because it now contains the additional shims which have been removed from shim pack 26. In this manner the distance between plate 54 and stop plate 56 remains the same, while movable bearing 22 and movable crushing roll 18 are moved toward fixed crushing roll 16 by an amount equal to the width of the shims removed from shim pack 26.

RESUME The crusher provided by the present invention utilizes an adjusting assembly which includes a generally U-shaped bracket, when viewed in plan, bracket the springs 52 are located, resulting in alongitudinally compact crusher.

In the present crusher, the hydraulic cylinders are not under any load during the crushing operation and instead the thrust of the shiftable roller during the normal crushing operation is absorbed directly through the springs and by the rigid main frame of the machine.

There is no need to use a wrench to make an adjustment of the crushing gap, it only being necessary to extend the cylinders, thus freeing the one set of shims for removal. Then the cylinders are contracted to retract one roll from the other, thereby permitting the shims between the rolls to be either added to or subtracted from, and then the first shim pack is again adjusted to the proper setting and the cylinder means then released.

We claim:

1. A roll crusher comprising, a longitudinal stationary frame, a pair of cooperating crushing rolls mounted on said frame, one of said rolls having bearing means for slideably mounting said roll in said frame and toward and away from the other roll to thereby create an adjustable crushing gap between said rolls, a pair of generally U-shaped brackets each including a stop plate and having arm means extending from said plate at each side thereof, one of said brackets being slideably mounted on each of opposite sides of said frame, first shim means including a plurality of removable individual shims located between said frame and said stop plates, rod means rigidly connected at one end to said bearing means of said one roll and having a slideable, one-way stop connection at the other end with said plate means, spring means-located and acting between said plate means and said bearing means of one of said rolls for urging said one roll toward the other, said first shim means acting between said frame and said plate means for holding said plate means and said spring means in any one of a number of adjustable positions on said frame, second shim means including a plurality of individual shims and located between said two rolls for setting the adjustable gap therebetween, and power means connected between said frame and said arm means of said brackets for shifting the brackets to (l) a position in which said spring means is compressed and consequently said first shim means is loosened to permit removal thereof, and (2) an opposite position in which said rod means and stop plates are retracted to thereby retract said one roll from the other roll and consequently loosen said second shim means to permit removal of the latter.

' 2. The crusher set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said slideable one way stop connection is formed by said rod means slideably extending through said stop plate, an nuts are threadably adjustable and the extending ends of said rod means.

3. The crusher set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said brackets have recesses which embrace said frame for guiding said brackets as they slide relative to said frame.

4. The crusher set forth in claim 2 further characterized in that said brackets have recesses which embrace said frame for guiding said brackets as they slide relative to said frame.

and in which 5. A roll crusher comprising, a longitudinal stationa r'y frame, a pair of cooperating crushing rolls mounted on said frame, one of said rolls being slideably mounted in said frame and toward and away from the other roll to thereby create an adjustable crushing gap between said rolls, a pair of generally U-shaped brackets each including a transverse stop plate and having arm means extending longitudinally from said plate at each side thereof and terminating in free ends, one of said brackets being slideably mounted on each of opposite sides of said frame, first shim means including a plurality of removable individual shims located between said frame and said stop plates, rod means rigidly connected at one end to said one roll and having a connection at the other end with said plate means, spring means located in said bracket and acting between said plate means and said one roll for urging said one roll toward the other, said first shim means located between said frame and said plate means, second shim means incl uding a plurality of individual shims and located between said two rolls for setting the adjustable gap therebetween, and power means connected between said frame and said free ends of said arm means for longitudinally shifting the brackets on said frame to (1 a spring means compressing position and (2) an opposite position in which said rod means and said roll are retracted away from the other roll to permit removal of said second shim means. 

1. A roll crusher comprising, a longitudinal stationary frame, a pair of cooperating crushing rolls mounted on said frame, one of said rolls having bearing means for slideably mounting said roll in said frame and toward and away from the other roll to thereby create an adjustable crushing gap between said rolls, a pair of generally U-shaped brackets each including a stop plate and having arm means extending from said plate at each side thereof, one of said brackets being slideably mounted on each of opposite sides of said frame, first shim means including a plurality of removable individual shims located between said frame and said stop plates, rod means rigidly connected at one end to said bearing means of said one roll and having a slideable, one-way stop connection at the other end with said plate means, spring means located and acting between said plate means and said bearing means of one of said rolls for urging said one roll toward the other, said first shim means acting between said frame and said plate means for holding said plate means and said spring means in any one of a number of adjustable positions on said frame, second shim means including a plurality of individual shims and located between said two rolls for setting the adjustable gap therebetween, and power means connected between said frame and said arm means of said brackets for shifting the brackets To (1) a position in which said spring means is compressed and consequently said first shim means is loosened to permit removal thereof, and (2) an opposite position in which said rod means and stop plates are retracted to thereby retract said one roll from the other roll and consequently loosen said second shim means to permit removal of the latter.
 2. The crusher set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said slideable one way stop connection is formed by said rod means slideably extending through said stop plate, an nuts are threadably adjustable and the extending ends of said rod means.
 3. The crusher set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said brackets have recesses which embrace said frame for guiding said brackets as they slide relative to said frame.
 4. The crusher set forth in claim 2 further characterized in that said brackets have recesses which embrace said frame for guiding said brackets as they slide relative to said frame.
 5. A roll crusher comprising, a longitudinal stationary frame, a pair of cooperating crushing rolls mounted on said frame, one of said rolls being slideably mounted in said frame and toward and away from the other roll to thereby create an adjustable crushing gap between said rolls, a pair of generally U-shaped brackets each including a transverse stop plate and having arm means extending longitudinally from said plate at each side thereof and terminating in free ends, one of said brackets being slideably mounted on each of opposite sides of said frame, first shim means including a plurality of removable individual shims located between said frame and said stop plates, rod means rigidly connected at one end to said one roll and having a connection at the other end with said plate means, spring means located in said bracket and acting between said plate means and said one roll for urging said one roll toward the other, said first shim means located between said frame and said plate means, second shim means including a plurality of individual shims and located between said two rolls for setting the adjustable gap therebetween, and power means connected between said frame and said free ends of said arm means for longitudinally shifting the brackets on said frame to (1) a spring means compressing position and (2) an opposite position in which said rod means and said roll are retracted away from the other roll to permit removal of said second shim means. 